My High Street Haul

I managed to find a few hours to have a look around the local shops, so I joined up with a cousin to share a girlie morning out.

Between-season shopping is always a challenge and I don't particularly enjoying the shopping process anyway, so that just adds another challenge to the mix.

'Aver, I went with some specific needs - a second pair of shoes I could wear during this holiday and a pair of jeans, as I discovered on arrival that the ones I have here have a tear in ripening fabric, so repairing isn't an option.  And I don't do grunge so these, and all the jeans with rips and worn-out bits on sale all over the place, just aren't for me.  That reduces my choice considerably!

Hey, why don't I share my girlie day with you too, virtually ...

I was looking for some pretty basic items - shoes, jeans. I started off well with the shoes.

At M&S I found some dressy black suede ankle bootees with a dinky heel, just £11 in their sale and so off-radar that they've disappeared off the website.  I'll photograph them soon.

And I found these.

M&S Chelsea Boots.

Now. these little babies are going to be good for clomping around the touristy places!

And then these

Nude wedge-sandals

Not in the sale as they are this season.  A nice nudey colour.

I know I'll wear these a lot.  But when it's warmer.

(Sorry about the small photo, they come off the website that way - the links give a bigger shot)

Jeans were also On-List.

I found some in Next. 

Slim leg jeans

And the must-have M&S black jeggings. 

M&S 5-pocket-denim-jeggings

These can be worn with just about everything on my Richter scale !

I was definitely keeping On-List, so far.

Then I went a bit Off-List.

Next black frill front top

 A nice dressy top that can also look good with black jeggings, or 7/8 white or chino jeans. 

But with a cardi, of course - you don't want to see my arms, do you?!

 

M&S 7/8 trousers

I love 7/8 chinos from M&S.  I bought some a couple of years ago, they are so versatile and thus have had so much summer-time use that they are looking a little weary (read tatty!).  I am so pleased they are still in their range this year.  Thank you, M&S.

Here's a shot of how they looked in better times.

Nicely casual with a Next modal top and Ecco sandals.  And short hair!

 It's a bit too cold to think of wearing these trousers yet - they need bare feet! Brrrr.

 Oh then it just got messy!  Into the bag went M&S bubble button cardis (love 'em) and a black/white cardi-jacket thing from Next - a Good Transitional Piece, as those stylish people say.

So what does every girl need after a morning like that?  A cappuccino.  But sorry, I can't share that with you, virtually.

Or, maybe I can ...

OK, it's an old photo, but the please enter into the spirit of this virtual coffee-drinking malarkey!

On reflection, I went so Off-List, but I did find the core items I shopped for too - so, all good!

I have to dash now, I'm off for a massive trying-on session.  Maybe some items will be returned, and maybe, just maybe, some will be appearing on a blog near you very soon :-).

A la perchoine.

Pimm's Anyone?

Now look at this, my first geranium bloom this year.  I am excited.  Won't be long till summer's here!

Geraniums become my indoor plant profusion in summer; the orchids don't seem to be so giving during the warmer months so they take a back seat and let the blousy geraniums take centre stage.  And do all the work.   That must be nature's way of giving me year-round indoor blooms!

I love geraniums as, just like the orchids, they require little effort or care on my part but give me so much, they are one nature's givers.

Seeing my first geranium got me thinking about sprucing up the house a bit for summer,

so .... queue a mooch around a garden centre.  An idle hour or two at Le Friquet here

Here are some of the things that took my eye (with apologies for weak photography - I took my little pocket camera, sorry!).

Black and copper glassware.

Storage jars with well-fitting smooth wooden lids.

Lots of white lanterns, they'd look so fresh on the garden tables.

Leafy candle holders - they look like artichokes!

Pretty chunky pottery.

A tableful of glassware, ready for a summer party!



A bit of an indulgence, methinks!

 

Some cute milk churns - now I know someone who'd like these!

And finally ... mine's a large Pimm's, please !

In my continuing mission to smarten up my act, on this day the jeans came off and a skirt went on!

Yes, here I am with my legs out, yet again!  Don't quite know why but it felt right.

  I'm wearing an M&S light British wool skirt in a fine stone/black houndstooth check. 

It's an old work skirt (15 years old maybe?) but it still looks like new and is lined, so it just had to have an airing.

It's worn here with a couple of my workhorses, the Next modal top (so versatile) and the Gabor nubuck bootees.

 Just wanted to show you more of the cosy Next fringed animal print scarf. 

It's AW15 and no longer available :-(.

But it does cosy up nicely with a M&S puffa. 

Ta daaah!!!

I really do hope that a glimmer of improvement is coming through in my everyday dressing. 

I have a few ideas in the pipeline which will pep things up a bit!  Bear with me, dear reader.

And for my labours, coffee and a bite to eat. 

A just reward after fasting the previous day.  And gyming!

As mentioned earlier, I realise my photography needs some improvement

but I do have plans on that front.

And, reader, the rain stopped today.  Yes, really. 

Maybe I can finally take some photos outdoors. 

Maybe fill a flask of Pimm's and shoot from here (photo sourced here)

Aaahh, won't be long ...

A la perchoine.